Guwahati, Feb 19 – Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday accused the Congress of allowing encroachment on nearly 10 lakh acres of forest land across the state during its rule, claiming that the Assamese community will become “almost” a minority in the 2027 Census.
Sarma also said that the daily wages of tea garden workers in the state may be increased from March 1, and the education department will hire 55,000 people over the next three years if the BJP returns to power after the assembly polls, which are scheduled in a few months.
"During the 2027 Census, the Assamese community will become almost a minority," he said in the assembly without elaborating.
During the Motion of Thanks on the governor's address in the assembly, he also said that he is in politics amid a "very dark time".
The BJP-led Assam government is trying to keep the lamp alive, which is giving "courage to everyone", Sarma asserted.
"Today, people from Dhubri as well as Majuli call me and say 'I am safe and secured'. We are marching towards (being a) minority, but just one lamp is giving light and courage," he said.
Sarma has earlier claimed on several occasions that the population of Muslims in Assam would be almost equal to that of the Hindus by 2041 if the current growth rate continues.
According to the 2011 Census, Assam had a Muslim population of 1.07 crore, making up 34.22 per cent of the total 3.12 crore residents of the state. There were 1.92 crore Hindus in the state, around 61.47 per cent of the total population.
The BJP has been regularly highlighting the demographic change, stating that at least nine districts became Muslim majority as per the 2011 Census from six in 2001, and the number has increased to at least 11 at present, although no census was conducted in its scheduled year of 2021.
Accusing the Congress of encouraging illegal occupation of public land, Sarma said: "The party left 30 lakh bighas of forest land for encroachment. We have carried out eviction in 1.5 lakh bighas."
Not a single house of any tribal family has been demolished during the eviction drive, he said, adding, they have been provided with land pattas.
"We are fighting the Congress legacy. We are fighting their legacies on multiple fronts – MMR, IMR, child marriage, polygamy, corruption and many more – Today, Assam is the shining spot of the Indian economy," he said.
The CM said daily wages of tea garden workers in the state may be hiked from March 1 if the ongoing negotiations with stakeholders become fruitful.
"Rupesh Gowala (Labour Welfare Minister) is working on it. If possible, we will give good news on hiking the daily wages by March 1," he said.
The minimum daily wage of tea garden workers was last hiked by Rs 18 in October 2023. In the Brahmaputra valley, the daily wage was increased to Rs 250, while the workers in Barak valley got Rs 228.
Sarma also said the government will soon start distributing land pattas to tea garden workers, as legal hurdles have been removed.
On jobs, he said: "When our next government comes after the elections, the education department will immediately start working to give 55,000 jobs in the next three years. We are presently doing the assessment for other departments, too."
Sarma said a committee has been formed to prepare a five-year roadmap for providing the maximum possible government jobs to the state's youths.
He said his government has already hired 1.59 lakh people in the last five years against its "promise of one lakh jobs".
"I believe another 5,000 will get appointments in the education department before the polls. So, there will be around 1.65 lakh jobs in my tenure," he said.
The BJP had promised to provide one lakh government jobs every year in Assam during campaigning for the 2021 assembly polls, but later clarified that the figure was for the entire five-year tenure.
He claimed that despite so many people getting government jobs, not a single case has been filed, challenging the hiring process or alleging corruption.
On the state's economy, Sarma said his government will, for the first time, be able to pay salary and pension bills in the 2026-27 fiscal entirely from its own tax devolution.
"In earlier Finance Commission (FC) devolutions, Assam's share was shrinking, and it remained at around three per cent. The 16th FC decided the state's share based on its contribution to the country's GDP. Accordingly, our devolution increased to 3.25 per cent," he said.
Sarma told the House that Assam will get nearly Rs 50,000 crore as tax devolution in 2026-27.
"We will be able to give our employees' salaries and pension completely through tax revenue. This is happening for the first time in 77 years," he asserted.
Assam will require around Rs 48,000 crore in the next fiscal for paying salaries and pensions to its working and retired employees, the CM said.
Sarma also said the state will become a Rs 10 lakh crore economy by the 2027-28 financial year, two years ahead of its target.
